New Mexico Reports 434 New COVID-19 Cases and 15 More Deaths

Environment department fines O'Reilly Auto Parts again for COVID-safety violations, saying employee death could have been avoided

By Julia Goldberg

The environment department has once again issued citations to O'Reilly Auto Parts—this time nearly $243,000 for violations at its Lovington location for allowing employees with COVID-19 symptoms to continue working, failing to properly screen employees for COVID-19 and not following proper cleaning and disinfection protocols. According to the state, three store employees later tested positive for COVID-19 and one, a 46-year-old woman, died.

“Providing employees with a false sense of protection from COVID-19 by putting policies in place to comply with state law and then not following them is unconscionable,” NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said in a statement. “Had O’Reilly management complied with corporate policies, it’s possible this tragic situation could have been avoided.”
Last month, NMED settled two citations with O’Reilly Auto Parts for $79,200 for violations of the public health order at its Airport Road location in Santa Fe. The company now has 15 business days from the date the newest citations were issued to pay the penalties or contest the citation.

The workplace citations come as rapid responses to workplaces continues to decline, following declining cases across the state. As of yesterday, 49 establishments were on the environment department's watchlist for having two or more rapid responses in the last 14 days—one in Santa Fe County: Pojoaque High School. By point of comparison, 65 places were on the watchlist a month ago and 206 two months ago.

As for cases, New Mexico health officials today reported 434 new ones, bringing the statewide total so far to 174,982. Of those cases, the health department has designated 105,568 as recovered.

Bernalillo County had 116 new cases, followed by 50 in Doña Ana County and 37 in both Lea and Sandoval counties. Santa Fe County had 32 new cases.

The state's most recent epidemiology report reflects the state's declining daily caseload, the one exception being Jan. 29, when the state reported 1,085 new cases. According to the report, a reporting error caused a backlog of results from a single facility on that date, resulting in higher rolling case averages and effective rates of transmission for the metro area containing Bernalillo County.

While the metro area's effective rate of transmission was increased by the backlog, all other regions are currently below the desired threshold of 1.05 or less, although both the northwest and southeast regions rate of transmission increased in the last week.

Nonetheless, statewide, cases, deaths and hospitalizations all have decreased and, according to the most recent COVID-19 modeling report, vaccines have thus far been responsible for a 10% reduction in daily cases. And, as of today, the state has administered 284,157 vaccines—approximately 77.5% of them primary, or first, doses. Cumulatively, the doses represent 91% of the vaccine the state has received so far. Santa Fe County continues to rank fifth for the percentage of the population that has received a vaccine here: 24.4%.

The state also announced 15 additional deaths today; there have now been 3,310 fatalities statewide.

And as of today, 492 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.*

Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase will provide an update on COVID-19 and vaccines at 1 pm, tomorrow, Feb. 1 on the New Mexico Human Services Department's Facebook page.

New cases

  • 116 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 3 new cases in Chaves County
  • 3 new cases in Cibola County
  • 3 new cases in Curry County
  • 2 new cases in De Baca County
  • 50 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 12 new cases in Eddy County
  • 4 new cases in Grant County
  • 37 new cases in Lea County
  • 1 new case in Lincoln County
  • 1 new case in Los Alamos County
  • 5 new cases in Luna County
  • 25 new cases in McKinley County
  • 12 new cases in Otero County
  • 2 new cases in Quay County
  • 12 new cases in Rio Arriba County
  • 7 new cases in Roosevelt County
  • 37 new cases in Sandoval County
  • 30 new cases in San Juan County
  • 3 new cases in San Miguel County
  • 32 new cases in Santa Fe County
  • 4 new cases in Socorro County
  • 2 new cases in Union County
  • 30 new cases in Valencia County
  • 1 new case among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Lea County Correctional Facility

New fatalities

  • A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County who had underlying conditions
  • A male in his 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized, had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Vecinos Santos Assisted Living facility in Santa Rosa
  • A male in his 50s from Chaves County and was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
  • A female in her 60s from Chaves County who was hospitalized
  • A male in his 70s from Chaves County who was hospitalized, had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
  • A male in his 80s from Cibola County who was a resident of the Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
  • A male in his 30s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized
  • A female in her 70s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
  • A male in his 70s from Lea County who had underlying conditions and was a resident of the White Sands Healthcare facility in Hobbs
  • A male in his 60s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
  • A female in her 80s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
  • A male in his 40s from Otero County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
  • A male in his 50s from San Juan County who was hospitalized
  • A second male in his 50s from San Juan County who was hospitalized
  • A male in his 60s from Taos County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions

Congregate facilities

The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days at the following facilities:

  • Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
  • The Aldea House – Heaven Sent LLC in Albuquerque
  • The Aristocrat Assisted Living Center in Las Cruces
  • Artesia Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Artesia
  • Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
  • Avamere at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
  • Avamere at Rio Rancho
  • Avamere at Roswell
  • Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
  • Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
  • BeeHive Homes of Albuquerque West
  • BeeHive Homes Clovis
  • BeeHive Homes Gallup
  • BeeHive Homes Santa Fe
  • BeeHive Homes Volcano Cliffs in Albuquerque
  • Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
  • Bloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bloomfield
  • The Bridge of Farmington in Farmington
  • Brookdale Santa Fe
  • Brookdale Valencia in Albuquerque
  • Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
  • Care Free Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Carefirst Assisted Living Willow Wood House in Albuquerque
  • Casa Bella Residential Care in Las Cruces
  • Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
  • Casa de Shalom in Rio Rancho
  • Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
  • Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
  • Casa Real in Santa Fe
  • Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
  • Colfax Long-Term Care Center in Springer
  • Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
  • El Castillo in Santa Fe
  • Elmcroft of Quintessence in Albuquerque
  • Fairwinds Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
  • Fort Bayard Medical Center in Santa Clara
  • Genesis San Juan Center in Farmington
  • Genesis Silver City Care Center in Silver City
  • Golden Hands Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Good Life Senior Living and Memory Care in Los Lunas
  • Good Life Senior Living in Carlsbad
  • Good Life Senior Living in Lovington
  • Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque
  • Good Samaritan Society – Betty Dare in Alamogordo
  • Good Samaritan Society Grants
  • Good Samaritan Society Socorro
  • Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
  • Ladera Center in Albuquerque
  • Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
  • Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
  • Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
  • Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
  • La Vida Llena Healthcare in Albuquerque
  • The Legacy at Santa Fe
  • Life Spire Assisted Living North Albuquerque Acres in Albuquerque
  • Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
  • McKinley Center in Gallup
  • The Meadows Home at the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas
  • Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
  • Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home in Deming
  • Mission Arch Center in Roswell
  • The Montecito in Santa Fe
  • MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque
  • MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Santa Fe
  • Muros de Salvación in Albuquerque
  • The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
  • New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
  • North Ridge Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Odelia Healthcare (Camino Healthcare) in Albuquerque
  • Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe
  • Palmilla Senior Living in Albuquerque
  • Princeton Place in Albuquerque
  • Ravenna Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque
  • Retirement Ranches in Clovis
  • Retreat Healthcare in Rio Rancho
  • The Rio at Las Estancias in Albuquerque
  • Rio Rancho Center
  • Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
  • Sandia Senior Suites Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Sandia View Bosque Trails Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Sandia View Spain Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Senior Living Systems in Los Lunas
  • Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences
  • Skies Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
  • Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Los Alamos
  • South Valley Care Center in Albuquerque
  • Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
  • St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
  • Sugar Hollow Assisted Living Center in Albuquerque
  • Tercer Cielo 2 in Albuquerque
  • Village Retirement Community in Roswell
  • Vida Encantada Nursing & Rehabilitation in Las Vegas
  • Vista Sandia Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
  • Welbrook Transitional Rehabilitation in Farmington
  • Wellesley Care Home in Albuquerque
  • Westwind House Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
  • White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs

Statewide cases

According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included two cases in Santa Fe County have been identified as duplicates, which have been corrected. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

  • Bernalillo County: 49,530
  • Catron County: 71
  • Chaves County: 8,241
  • Cibola County: 2,595
  • Colfax County: 664
  • Curry County: 4,753
  • De Baca County: 128
  • Doña Ana County: 21,175
  • Eddy County: 6,007
  • Grant County: 1,296
  • Guadalupe County: 335
  • Harding County: 8
  • Hidalgo County: 323
  • Lea County: 7,846
  • Lincoln County: 1,447
  • Los Alamos County: 449
  • Luna County: 2,947
  • McKinley County: 11,586
  • Mora County: 148
  • Otero County: 2,904
  • Quay County: 400
  • Rio Arriba County: 3,226
  • Roosevelt County: 1,772
  • Sandoval County: 10,216
  • San Juan County: 13,025
  • San Miguel County: 1,135
  • Santa Fe County: 9,197
  • Sierra County: 672
  • Socorro County: 1,132
  • Taos County: 1,454
  • Torrance County: 597
  • Union County: 212
  • Valencia County: 5,835

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

  • Cibola County Correctional Center: 425
  • Otero County Federal Prison Facility: 440
  • Otero County Processing Center: 197
  • Torrance County Detention Facility: 47

Cases among people being held by the New Mexico Department of Corrections

  • Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 285
  • Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 251
  • Lea County Correctional Facility: 373
  • Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 166
  • Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 116
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 472
  • Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 215
  • Roswell Correctional Center: 228
  • Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 216
  • Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 151
  • Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 74

*Per the health department, hospitalization figures include people who were tested elsewhere but are hospitalized in New Mexico, but don't include people who were tested here but are hospitalized out of state.

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